William s



(No Model.) Y

W. S. LAIGHTON.

HEAD AND BACK RESTFOR PHOTOGRAPHIG PURPOSES.

Patented May .23," 1882.

Ear/67%;? w m NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. LAIGHTON, OF NORWICH, OONNEOTIG UT, ASSIGNOR TO E. &

H. T. ANTHONY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HEAD AND BACK REST FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,443, dated May 23, 1882.

Application filed October 19, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM S.'LAIGHTON, of Norwich, inthe county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Head and Back Rest for Photographic Purposes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and correct description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

In these drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the rest. Fig. 2 represents a top View of the same. Fig. 3 shows the rear end of the clamp.

The object of my invention is to furnish a mode of securing the several parts of the rest in a rigid manner with the greatest facility for adjusting the same to the person in the least possible time, and in releasing and securin g the same in its adjusted position; and it consists in a clamping device combined with the usual rods and forks and a cam which by a single motion binds all the parts securely against all its various motions.

A is the rod to which the head-rest and backrest are usually attached.

The clamp is made in two parts, I) b, and has a vertical hole made through its front on d, onehalfof the hole being made in each part of the clamp. This opening is made to receive the rod A, and is made small enough to bind on the rod when the two parts of the clamp are pressed together. The two parts of the clamp I) b are held together by a stud-bolt, B, which passes freely through one-half of the clamp, 11, and is rigidly secured in the other half, b.

O is a horizontal rod carrying the forks or arms to steady the person, and is held in asplit' block or clamp, D, in the same manner as the rod A is held in its clamp, as above mentioned. This block D is made to swing loosely on the stud-bolt B, by which itis held in contact with the clamp b. This allows the rod O to beplaced at any angle required, and also to turn on its axis freely when not tightened up by the cam. A recess is made in the back end of the two parts of the clamp b b, one half in each part,

the ends of which enter holes in each part of clamp, and upon these the cam is turned by means of a handle on its upper side. This cam S is made in a wedge shape,with its thin edge down, so as to fit loosely in the recess when the handle is thrown forward, and when the cam is in this position all the parts are free. The clamp may then slide easily up and down or turn on the rod A. The block D will swing on the stud B so as to set the rod 0 at any angle, and the rod will slide endwise or turn on its axis in the block so the arms on its front end can be set in any position. When the handle of the cam S is thrown back (see dotted lines, Fig. 1) the thicker part of the cam S is turned into the narrow part of the recess,which crowds the two parts I) b of the clamp apart, and they are held together in the middle by the stud-bolt B, which serves as a fulcrum and causes the front end of the clamp to close on the rod A and prevent all motion on the rod either vertically or horizontally. At the same time the strain on the stud B draws the two parts of the block D to the main clamp, so as to prevent the swinging motion, and the drawing together of the two parts of the block D binds on the rod 0 and prevents all motion of that rod either endwise or around its axis. In this way a slight motion of the handle of the cam binds all the parts rigidly in any position in which they may have been placed. All the parts are simple, easily constructed, and promise great durability.

Having thus described my improvements, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the rod A, clamp b 1), bolt B, and cam S with the clamp D and rod 0, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM S. LAIGHTON.

Witnesses:

H. L. PARKER, J. A. PARKER. 

